About The Butoh Rockettes

Founded by Celeste Hastings, The Butoh Rockettes based in New York City, is a satirical yet existential butoh group receiving aclaim in the NYC club and downtown theater scenes. Since 2000, Celeste multi-functions as director, choreographer, costume and sound designer, creating individual acts and full evening events performances. Birthed in the late 90's at the NYC meatmarket area club MOTHER run by Chi Chi Valenti and Johnny Dynell, the group (Celeste Hastings together with original Co-members and Co-creators Patti Bradshaw and Chris Maresca and guest dancers) was an annual celebrated feature in the acclaimed Jackie 60 Christmas shows (co-founders Richard Move and Kitty Boots) from 1996 through 1999. After MOTHER closed Celeste, working with a changing group of from 4 to 6 new members continued Butoh Rockettes associations with Presenters Chi Chi Valenti and Johnny Dynell in further Jackie Christmas shows at the Slipper Room and for Webster Hall, private Clemente events and in 2003 at the Roxy NYC for the Broadway show Taboo's opening after party. The Butoh Rockettes have also been seen at Click & Drag at Mother and Fun, Life, P2122, the Corcoran Group's Crobar NYC gala in Jan. 2004, Club Avalon, the 2005 Europa/Estat Uniti Festival in Long Island, the Howl Festival 2005, in Noemi Lafrance's site specific AGORA II in Brooklyn, Sept. 2006, at Guastavinos for CEM in March 2007, and in the Dec, 2007 FOOD FOR THOUGHT series @ St. Marks Church curated by Christopher Williams. Current and past Butoh Rockettes members include: Celeste Hastings, Christine Coleman, Jil Guyon, Shizu Homma, Stephanie Lanckton, Bob de Natale, Sara Baird, Erin Dudley, Michele Cappello, Corinna Hiller/Brown, Jessi Gayle, Eveleena Dann, Elise Knudson, Britt Whitton, Susan Lamberth, Kacie Chang, Frank Schneider, Nadine Helstroffer, Juan Carlos Linares, Susan Mathews, and original Co-Creaters Patti Bradshaw and Chris Maresca and original Co-Member Sondra Graff, with visual artist Venantius Pinto often contributing scenography and artworks painted on the body.

Continuing the expansive aspect of butoh, Celeste through The Butoh Rockettes seeks to bring this art form in an accecible, beautiful and entertaining way into the modern 2001st century era. Adding influences from all kinds of dance, theater, fashion, visual art medias and cultures she still maintains the timeless, existential and spiritual qualities of "formal" butoh.